A WOMAN whose partner is accused of murdering her had 36 recent injuries on her body, a court has heard.

Atual Mustafa is on trial at Derby Crown Court charged with the murder of his former partner, Sohbia Khan, 37, at their home in Pear Tree Crescent, Normanton.

Miss Khan lived in Manningham until she moved in with Mustafa in Derby about a month before her death.

On Wednesday, Dr Michael Biggs, a Home Office pathologist, told the court about the findings of a post-mortem examination that was carried out on Miss Khan after the discovery of her body in the bathroom of the home in May 2017.

Dr Biggs told the jury Miss Khan was found with around 36 “recent” or “fresh” injuries in different parts of her body.

He said that, on the left side of her forehead, there was bruising, which the court heard could have been caused by “some sort of blunt force”.

The jury was told she had a black left eye.

There was also bruising in the cheek area and Miss Khan’s left ear, the trial was told.

There was also a bruise on her chin and her right breast, Dr Biggs added. Further bruising was found on her chin, breast, abdomen, hips, thighs, arms, shoulders and calf, the jury heard.

When asked by prosecutor Michael Auty, Dr Biggs said the back of one of Miss Khan’s arm was “one big bruise”.

Mr Auty said there were also burn marks caused by an iron.

Mr Auty asked Dr Biggs if blunt force was used in the injuries to Miss Khan’s face, head, torso and limbs. Dr Biggs replied: “Yes.”

Dr Biggs added it was likely they happened at different times, rather than a “single incident”.

He also confirmed there had been “multiple incidents of head injury over a period of time”.

Mr Auty finished his questioning of the witness by asking if the death was most likely to have been the consequence of “inflicted injury”.

Dr Biggs responded: “Yes.”

He was then cross-examined by Mustafa’s barrister, David Nathan QC.

Mr Nathan said Mustafa accepted he caused the bulk of any injuries suffered by Miss Khan but that he denies murdering her.

He asked Dr Biggs: “Is it possible Sohbia fell in the bath, grabbed the shower curtain, banged her head, suffered a loss of consciousness and a loss of airways, and that is why she died?”

Dr Biggs replied that if, during a fall, she had sustained a significant head injury which accounted for why she stopped breathing, then it would be possible.

The trial continues.